Maxwell's POV - Twenty Years Ago (Two Days After Meeting Olivia)
I sat in the library's reading room, surrounded by my fellow book club members, but for the first time in forever, I wasn't actually paying attention to the discussion.
Mrs. Ivan was talking about symbolism in The Chronicles of Narnia, her voice filled with the passionate enthusiasm she always had when discussing literature. Usually, I'd be hanging on every word, my hand shooting up with answers and observations, desperate to show that I knew things, that I was good at something.
But today, I kept glancing at the clock on the wall.
3:47 PM.
Thirteen minutes until I could leave.
Thirteen minutes until I could see Olivia.
The thought made me smile - something I rarely did anymore. My face felt strange doing it, like those particular muscles had forgotten how to work properly.
